Update: Police identify Rockville man who died after car hit tree, flipped in Sauk River

ROCKVILLE — A 40-year-old Rockville man died Tuesday after the car he was driving went off the road, hit a tree and landed on its roof in the Sauk River, according to Stearns County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities identified the man Wednesday as Catalino De Leon Alvarado.

Sheriff's deputies responded to a call of a vehicle in the Sauk River at the Sauk River Road and Stearns County Road 139 in Rockville at about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.

A passerby reported seeing a road sign knocked down and tracks leading to the river. When deputies arrived on scene they found a 2000 Honda CR-V on its roof in the river.

Rockville Fire and Rescue extricated the man from the vehicle and medics from Gold Cross Ambulance assisted in trying to save the man's life. His name is being withheld until his next of kin can be notified.

The initial investigation revealed the CR-V was traveling southbound on County Road 139 at the time of the crash.

Evidence from the scene shows the driver most likely applied brakes late while approaching the intersection and hit the "T" warning sign as he drove through the intersection.

The car then continued into the ditch and hit a tree, which caused the car to flip onto its roof and into the river.

Deputies believe the driver was the only occupant of the car. Officers also spoke to the owner of the car, who said they had lent it to the driver on Monday.